The stability of benzoyl peroxide formulations determined from isothermal microcalorimetric studies

The Long-term Stability of Sodium Percarbonate in Presence of Zeolite as Measured by Heat Flow Calorimetry

Heat flow calorimetry has been evaluated as an alternative technique to conventional stability testing of sodium percarbonate [15630-89-4] (SPC) based on analysis of the hydrogen peroxide content. Stability tests were performed with different SPC samples as well as under various experimental conditions. In general, stable samples exhibiting high concentration of hydrogen peroxide were accompanied by low heat flow values. It was found that the results obtained by heat flow calorimetry and conventional stability testing were in agreement. It was also demonstrated that the long-term stability could be predicted from heat flow data obtained during the initial stage of decomposition. Furthermore, different manufacturing and experimental conditions were manifested as a change of the heat flow curve. The results indicate that the rate of heat production is closely associated with the stability of sodium percarbonate, i. e. the rate of decomposition of sodium percarbonate. In presence of zeolite the stability of sodium percarbonate was reduced, particularly under humid conditions.

Investigation of the decomposition reaction and dust explosion characteristics of crystalline benzoyl peroxides

The benzoyl peroxide (BPO) is widely used in the chemical industry. Many catastrophes have been caused by its thermal instability or reactive incompatibility in storage or thermal decomposition reaction. Thus, its hazard characteristics have to be clearly identified. First of all, the differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) is used to measure the heat of decomposition reaction, which can contribute to understanding the reaction characteristics of benzoyl peroxide. The accelerating rate calorimeter (ARC) is used to measure the rates of temperature and pressure rises of decomposition reaction, and then the kinetics parameters are estimated. Furthermore, the MIKE 3 apparatus and the 20-l-Apparatus are used to measure and analyze the dust explosion characteristics of benzoyl peroxide under room temperature and atmospheric pressure. Finally, Semenov's thermal explosion theory is applied to investigate the critical runaway condition and the stability criterion of decomposition reaction, and to build the relationship of critical temperature, convective heat transfer coefficient, heat transfer surface area and ambient temperature. These results contribute to improving the safety in the reaction, transportation and storage processes of benzoyl peroxide.

The use of microcalorimetry and HPLC for the determination of degradation kinetics and thermodynamic parameters of Perindopril Erbumine in aqueous solutions

Perindopril Erbumine (PER) is one of the newly used angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors) and is used for the treatment of patients with hypertension and symptomatic heart failure. It has two main degradation pathways, i.e. the degradation by hydrolysis and the degradation by cyclization. An isothermal heat conduction microcalorimetry (MC) and high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) were used for the characterization of aqueous solutions of PER and its stability properties. The rates of heat evolved during degradation of perindopril were measured by MC as a function of temperature and pH and from these data rate constant and change in enthalpy of the reactions were determined. With the HPLC method the concentration of perindopril and its degradation products were measured as a function of time in aqueous solutions of different pH that were stored at different temperatures. We demonstrated that reactions of degradation of perindopril at observed conditions follow the first order kinetics. The Arrhenius equation for each pH was determined. At pH 6.8 only one degradation pathway is present, i.e. the degradation by hydrolysis. Degradation constants for this pathway calculated from MC data are in good agreement with those obtained from HPLC. MC as a non-specific technique was shown to be useful in studies of PER when one reaction was present in the sample and also when more chemical and physical processes were simultaneously running.

Use of microcalorimetry in determination of stability of enalapril maleate and enalapril maleate tablet formulations

The stability properties of enalapril maleate (EM) and of different tablet formulations including EM were studied by isothermal microcalorimetry and by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). It was shown that water content of the sample and elevated temperature have a high impact on stability properties of the substance itself and of the formulations including this substance. The degradation is more extensive at higher water content and at elevated temperature. The type of the tablet formulation (5 or 20mg EM tablet formulation) also has an impact: the 5 EM tablet formulation is the less stable one. The heat output of individual tablet formulations was used to evaluate the enthalpy changes and to calculate the difference in the amount of degraded EM between various samples. These results agreed satisfactorily with those obtained by HPLC. Isothermal microcalorimetry proved to be a fast and predictive method that could be used in preformulation studies to accelerate the pharmaceutical development and shorten the time before launching the product to the market.

Skin deep

Over the past 30 or so years there has been a considerable advance in our knowledge of the mechanisms of skin permeation. This has largely been brought about by the development of sophisticated biophysical techniques and increased computing powers. The advanced technology has clearly provided indications, at a molecular level, about routes of permeation and how the barrier function can be modulated by excipients with which actives are formulated. This publication reviews some of the advances that have been made and mathematical models that have been constructed to predict percutaneous penetration and transdermal delivery. The models also indicate the various enhancement strategies that can be used in dermal penetration. In the past, it has been difficult to identify precise mechanisms of action of the different classes of enhancer but a combination of appropriate biophysical techniques, mathematical modelling and chemometric analysis can help identify the contributing processes. The models can also be used to indicate rate control in transdermal delivery, whether it is in the applied delivery device or in the skin.